The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-04-29
BEND, BREAK, OR CONQUER.

community who are capable of in
dependent thought, that the Govern
ment of this country is great deal
worse than it ought to be, and not
half so good as it might be. We
even believe that the Government,
as constituted and administered, has
been and is bar and an obstruc-
tion to the country's prosperity and
advancement. Some of its legal
enactments are detrimental to the
public good. 1t collects taxes and
prostitutes them to selfish aud per-
sonal objects, to the neglect of the
general welfare. These things make
capitalists averse to the investment
of capital in promising enterprises.
In these various ways the Govern
ment operates as a check to the pro-
gress that would be assured under
an honest, conscientious, sagacious,
pro-bono-publico government.
Although our faith in the Gov
ernment is less than grain of
mustard seed, we firmly believe in
the country. 1t is full of latent
wealth, sufficient to support q popu-
lation many, many times greater
than it now contains. Hawaii has
many years before her-whether as
an independent country or an out
post of some great nation, will de-
pend mainly on herself. In time
the land will be covered with people
in all directions, with their home
steads scattered in every available
spot, supported by novel products,
and everywhere showing the evil
dences of successful industry. Then
the wealth and grandeur of the coun-
try will be exhibited, not in the
wasteful expenditure of the peoples
money upon vain, tasteless, and un-
productive display, but in the pro-
fitable enterprise of prosperous
and contented people, attracted to
her shores in thousands by the faci-
lity of becoming partners in the
easily attainable means of wealth.
A government alive to the situa-
ton, and competent for the task of
elevating the country to the position
which it might and ultimately will
attain, would drop all military,
naval, and foreign humbug, let
Samoa manage her own business, and
at once set to work to so modify the
laws of the realm that the poor man
shall be able, if willing, to turn the
waste lands into reproductive
source of general advantage to the
whole community, and by his own
industry and strength, in lieu of
capital, make home that will tie
him permanently to the soil as a
citizen, with stake of value in the
welfare of the country. Such a
government would expend the pub
lie revenue mainly upon roads,
bridges, and wharves, making all
matters of personal or semi-per-
sonal character secondary to the
| general welfare.
Now, it is quite clear the Govern
ment with which the people are al
present unluckily saddled does not
in any particular correspond with
, this description; and those who de-
, sire a government something of the
sort indicated should persisently use
, their best endeavors to secure it,
: Most observing and thinking people
see the main question, although
t possibly differing in some of the
r minor details, in about the same
r light as ourselves. Well, there arc
\ three modes of action open to us
a to bend, TO break, or to conquer
B., The first we most positively decline
Y the second has not yet occurred, ant
: is not likely to; the third is in tn
hands of the future, and will, soone
e or later, become realization
Y Neither misfortune, accident, no
1 injustice, are any plea for inactiol
or despair. The path may be thorn,
and the occupation distasteful, bu
if the object to be attained is worth,
r of time and endeavors, then we ma,
4 fearlessly pursue our course, con
scious that if the employment i
without profit the result is withou
f dishonor. Ignorance and fraud may
: have dominion over the country
c fortunes for season, but the peopl,
Y will some day awake from thei
c lethargy, cast away the bonds tina
4 now restrain their progress, an,
t make Hawaii what the splendor ant
4 magnitude of her resource hav